The ruling coalition in Germany is fighting over whether to include compulsory military service as part of efforts to increase the size of its military. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are debating the shape of a new draft law, the Military Service Modernization Act, which will be presented in Cabinet on August 27. At the moment, Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears to be swerving the argument, but some Christian Democrats are hoping to include him in the fight.
Germany suspended mandatory conscription in 2011. Currently, Bundeswehr – Germany’s armed forces – is struggling with personnel shortage. A report presented to Germany’s parliament in March showed that the Bundeswehr is 21,826 heads short of its 203,000 active personnel target. The government hopes to recruit about 5,000 additional voluntary soldiers each year, with service terms of up to 23 months.
Christian Democrats led by Merz are proposing a tougher law, which would introduce a mandatory service year with a potential compulsory military service alongside civilian alternatives such as hospital or school work. They are also opposed to making a parliamentary vote a condition for introducing conscription during an emergency, even though the law currently mandates it. They argue that if conscription is only activated in a military crisis, it becomes a “reaction tool rather than a deterrent”, losing public acceptance.
Norbert Röttgen told WELT: “If conscription is only activated in a heightened military crisis, it becomes a reaction tool rather than a deterrent. It would come too late, lose public acceptance and miss its actual purpose. What is a conscript supposed to achieve when the crisis is already here?”
The bill’s proponent, the German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, has warned that Europe is facing a growing security threat. Last year, he said in an interview with a German publication, Frankfurter Rundschau: “According to the assessments of international military experts, it must be assumed that Russia will be in a position to attack a NATO state, or a neighbouring state, from 2029 onwards.”
The SPD’s position, as stated by its member Andreas Schwarz, is grounded in the principle that the Bundeswehr is a “parliamentary army.” This means that the decision to reintroduce compulsory service should rest with the legislature, not the executive.
He told Politico: “That’s a decision the parliament has to take. If targets aren’t met and the threat level is high, then parliament must decide and, if necessary, tighten the law.”
He added that they want people who genuinely want to be in the military, arguing that volunteers are more likely to commit to longer service, while compulsion would create resistance.
